Israel retaliation unlikely due to 'international pressure' and Iran's 'restraint', specialist says As the international community holds its breath to see Israel's next step after an Iranian attack late Saturday involving hundreds of drones and missiles, an immediate response appears unlikely due to the "international pressure" on Israel, said Julien Barnes-Dacey, MENA Programme Director at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Barnes-Dacey also noted restraint from Iran as the Islamic Republic is “desperate not to get sucked in a direct war with Israel and the US, since October 7th".